Today in History: Citizen Kane Is Released

The dark and enigmatic opening scene of Citizen Kane is one that you always remember. If you haven’t seen the film, you will not be disappointed. Symbolic of a time of innocence and happiness, the most famous and haunting line is spoken within the first three minutes, leaving us to wonder about the state of the newspaper empire, impact of loss, and the difficulty of understanding a person’s life beyond the public image.

Considered one of the greatest movies of all time, Citizen Kane was released on May 1st, 1941 at RKO Palace Theater on Broadway. The mystery drama by Orson Wells follows the life of William Randolph Hearst, who ruled the nation’s newspapers. With its original camera and sound work, it included a fake-newsreel or “mockumentary” footage that became a model for many films to be produced over decades to come.

Be sure to check out the upcoming Everett Cafe book display, What’s Real in the Media? that focuses on fake news and media literacy.

Need to keep current, look to the past, teach a topic? The Everett Cafe features daily postings of news from around the world, and also promotes awareness of historical events from an educational context.